Friday, May 28, 2010

All new for Friday!!! Follow Friday 40 and Over Bloggers!! I have had several requests to start a blog hop for Over 40 Bloggers and I will be hosting every Friday! Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!

Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!

The RULES to join in are very simple!

1. Grab the button above
2. Add your link to the list
3. Visit as many other blogs as you can
4. Follow the ones you like (and comment on their blog to say that you are following)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

As you know we have 3 male cats. Our youngest kitty, BoBo is 10 months old and when we got him we had no idea how long his fur would grow!!

When we got BoBo, he looked like this:

Yesterday he looked like this:

Today, he looks like this:

Bobo is now sporting the Lion Cut!!
When we picked him up at the groomer's I couldn't believe what he looked like! I couldn't stop laughing....he looked so cute!!
We couldn't wait to see what the kids thought! Venti was the first to see him and he just cracked up laughing and said how cute he looked!
Grande was next and he could not stop laughing! He loved the cut!
Tall came home from school and said, "what in the heck did you do that to BoBo for?"...."He looks like a poodle!!"
Short was next to come home from school and laughed so hard I think he peed his pants!!!

Since he got home, he hasn't stop washing....mostly his little boy parts! I think he couldn't find them before!!

Some people think that shaving a cat is cruel or is harming the cat in some way or that it is a form of abuse. This is NOT cruel to the cat! The lion cut can be done for several reasons:

Your love the personality of a long hair breed of cat but simply don’t want to or don’t have time to take care of all that hair!

If you live in hot climates, the lion cut can help keep your kitty cool.

If your male cat is not neutered, the lion cut will help keep him clean.

If your cat is a female breeder, the lion cut will help keep her clean and help her babies find mommy easier to nurse.

Older cats are sometimes poor groomers, and the lion cut will help keep them clean.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I’ve been wearing my hair in some sort of messy updo most of the time as it only take a couple of minutes and it looks great!! While it’s certainly a simple way to battle a bad hair day, I’ve surprisingly received numerous requests to see just how it’s done!
It helps to have hair that hasn’t been washed for at least a day and the best thing is that it doesn’t have to look too perfect.

There are 2 different ways that you can create this look:

Method 1

Short hair:

You will need to pull your hair through the band at least three times, On the first time, pull hair through like a normal pony tail, then, pull it back through half way, creating a small loop.

Here you can get creative, pulling loose ends through the loop and what not, but that's for you to create and personalize if you wish, not necessary.

Finally, double the loop over and secure with the band.

To give your hair the funky loose ends, you have to double the loop so the loose ends stick out 1-2 inches.

You may have to practice a bit, but its easy to catch on and personalize. No two messy buns are alike really.

Long hair:

Personally I think long hair makes better messy buns, just because it makes a fuller bun, and gives you more to work with.

You follow the same basic steps as the short hair, but on the first pull, don't pull your hair through the whole way.

When you pull your hair through the second time, twist it around some, pulling it through half way again (not the full length, half of the second length.) repeat these steps until you get your full length into the bun.

Don't make the bun as tight as possible, because then you lose the messy-ness of a loose bun.

Method 2

Put hair in a medium or low ponytail.

Put your head down and put it so your hair falls into a circle around the ponytail holder.

Grab the part right around the ponytail holder and wrap another one around it.

Take some of the leftover pieces of hair and twist them and tuck them into the ponytail holder.

Monday, May 24, 2010

I can barely see my computer screen as I have continuous tears welding up in my eyes....

Venti is moving out on Friday.

He is moving 77 miles away..to another State...not extremely far..but away from this house. To start his life with Mocha and a new job.

The house that has so memories of him here.

We moved here when he was 5.

5!

Just a small boy.

And now he is grown.

He has been packing for the past week. I didn't really think much of it...in fact the only thing that I was thinking was what a mess the house looks like with his boxes and stuff everywhere!

Then last night I waved goodbye to Joe at the window as he drove down the street to work.
Venti had left after dinner to go over to Mocha's (Venti's Fiance) house. Tall was at work.
Grande and Short were downstairs. The house seemed so quite for some reason.
Venti's room is on the first floor and his door was cracked a little.

I walked into his room just to see how far he has gotten with his packing.

Its like the air was sucked out of me.

I sat down on his bed and looked around me.

Tears just started flowing down my face.

I sat there and looked around.

Looking at the empty nail on the wall that once hung a picture of something....I don't even know what.

Looking at the giant stuffed animals way up high on his shelf that he won one year at the boardwalk...he kept them all these years.

Looking at the bottle of sea shells that he got one year at the beach...tucked in next to his college graduation cap and gown.

Looking at all the trophies he has won over the years...covered in dust...
And then there...sitting amongst his prized trophies was his beloved Elmo...the very same Elmo that comforted him when he was sleeping...the very same Elmo that helped sooth the pain when he fell off his bike...the very same Elmo that Venti sucked on his nose when he fell asleep....

That's when I lost it.

I was so choked up looking at Elmo....remembering how Venti wouldn't go to sleep without him.

Now Elmo was sitting way up high...on the top shelf...covered in dust...forgotten by Venti.

How could this be? My little boy...moving out of the house that he grew up in....no longer will our family be the same. Even though its a reality I still do not want this next chapter in my life to start.

One day I will be writing that Short is moving out too...and for that day to come, well I cannot even fathom that thought. Why does it have to be that way? Why are we given these precious babies only to pack them up and watch them leave one day? I know that is life...but I have a hard time comprehending it.

I cannot stop crying.

This is so hard for me.

And then I saw his little t-ball glove....

Lying in the corner...next to a dust ball...so small and tiny....belonging to the little boy....who is now a man...but in my mind....he is still my little boy.....and he is moving away.....how can I tell myself that this is ok? Because right now I can't and I'm so sad.....

Venti's Aunt and Uncle, and Cousins:
The little one's are going to be the ring bearer and flower girl.

Mocha's Brother and G/F (left),
Venti's Friend, Venti and

Venti's Cousin and Short:

Joe and I
It was a great party and everyone had a good time! On the ride home, Venti says, "Just think...for the Rehearsal Dinner, it will be double the people that were there tonight!"

Joe and I: "How do you figure that?"

Venti: "Well it will be all those that were there plus the bridal party and their significant others."

Joe and I: "Venti all those Aunt's and Uncle's and cousins won't be at the Rehearsal Dinner!"

Venti: "Yes they will be...they are supposed to be invited too and that's the way we want it!"

Joe and I: "No you don't have all those extra's at the Rehearsal Dinner! Its just for those that will be at the church rehearsing....the bridal party...any spouse's...girlfriends/boyfriends...minister....Grandparents and the parents of the flower girl & ring bearer! The Aunts and Uncle's and cousins aren't invited! Why would they come if they aren't "in" the wedding? It could get way out of hand if you start inviting all of those..the list would never end!"

Venti: "Well Mocha's sister had all the Aunt's and stuff at her Rehearsal Dinner and so we want all of them at ours....I will just pay for the extra ones!"

Joe and I: "Its not the money, its the fact of who is supposed to come and who isn't. Why would you invite people that aren't actually in the wedding?"

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Growing old gracefully isn't a lost art―it's just a forgotten one! I for one try to do everything possible to delay the aging process!! I have found 12 easy ways to help delay this process and wanted to share it with you!! About 80 percent of aging is caused by environmental factors....things you have control over!

Wear sunscreen every day. You've heard it before: Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging! Ultraviolet light from the sun―or a tanning bed―breaks down collagen and elastin, the substances that keep skin smooth and firm. To help minimize damage and wrinkles, stay out of the sun and follow these tips:

Apply sunscreen liberally. A too-thin layer of SPF (sun protection factor) 15 is equal to only about SPF 7. Use a shot glass-size amount to cover your body and a teaspoonful to cover your face.

Don't forget your legs! More cases of malignant melanomas are on women's legs than on their faces!

Don't rely on SPF-enhanced makeup. Chances are you don't wear enough of it to defend your skin.

Choose sunglasses with UV protection. Good sunglasses help prevent cataracts, and they also keep you from squinting, which can, over time, break down the collagen around your eyes and cause crow's-feet.

Avoid smoky situations. If you smoke, quit. And nonsmokers should be aware that chronic exposure to secondhand smoke can damage skin.

Be conscious of repetitive movements. Between smiling, frowning, and talking, your face makes thousands of movements a day. Over time, these repetitive motions lead to deeper lines. If you're constantly drinking through a straw, chewing gum, or smoking, you're breaking down the collagen around your mouth. And the wrinkles will come earlier!!

Stop picking! It's hard to resist the urge to do a little at-home surgery on a pimple, but the mark it might leave is the most persuasive reason not to. As you age, acne scars often end up looking more like wrinkles. If you have a pimple on your cheek near where a wrinkle forms, it will make the wrinkle deeper.

Cleanse with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). They help remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal a fresh layer underneath. Alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid) unclog pores and help your skin look smoother. Note: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try a cleanser with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

Use an anti-aging cream at night. New anti-aging creams arrive on cosmetics counters all the time―with bigger claims and heftier price tags. But good old retinoids, which contain a vitamin A derivative, are still the gold standard. Retinoids encourage the skin to renew itself, smoothing fine lines and helping to repair sun damage. I use Garnier Nutritoniste Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.

Remember the rest of your body. "Everything you do for your face, you should also do for your neck, chest, and hands. Those are the primary spots that show aging. At the very least, moisturize: Hydrated skin looks plumper and smoother.

About Me!

Hello! I refer to myself as "Java". I am 49ish years young and I'm from Pennsylvania and have lived here all my life. I was living on the land that my Grandfather used to have a working dairy farm for more then 50 years until we sold it to our oldest son Venti and moved a street over. I am married to my high school sweetheart "Joe" 29 years and have been together for 35 years! We have 4 wonderful sons. I started modeling when I turned 40! Join me as I struggle to comprehend that I am not 20 anymore and having a hard time dealing with the "age" thing! Wanna read more about me? Click on the "About Me" under my logo banner at the top!

Me

This is Me! I started modeling when I turned 40! Mom to 4 boys...add the hubby...makes 5 boys! Plus 3 males cats! I live in a houseful of men! I am funny, caring, loving and sentimental. I love to dance and have taken ballet lesson for the past 6 years. I love spending time with my hubby and my sons. I still haven't figured out what I want to do in life...guess I should decide soon huh?

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